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Topic Closed50amp to 30 amp dog bone
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StephenH View Drop Down
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Posts: 6289 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: 50amp to 30 amp dog bone
    Posted: 31 Jan 2020 at 12:29pm
I would rather find a 30A circuit breaker, but those seem to be non-existent. This does look to be a workable solution to having at least 20A safely provided.
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Posts: 5290 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 Jan 2020 at 12:23pm
That would work but you'd end up with 5 devices between the pedestal and the trailer. I'd be inclined to get the RIGID part and cut off both terminations on it. Then, install this on one end, leaving one of the hots disconnected:


If this connector's is too loose around the RIGID parts cable you can add a layer or two of heat shrink to get a tight fit. 

One the other end of the RIGID part you can attach this:


That ought to give you what is effectively a 50 to 30A dog bone with an inline 20A circuit breaker for about $35, so you'd wind up with only two parts between the pedestal and the trailer. 
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Posts: 260 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 Jan 2020 at 9:48am
Originally posted by offgrid

...I just saw this on NorthernTool’s website. It appears to have an inline 20A breaker, not a Gfci. 20A should be fine for our trailers, with the possible exception of running the microwave and the a/c at the same time. It should be located as close as possible to the pedestal....

https://m.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200722091_200722091?&utm_source=google_PPC&utm_medium=NT%20DSA%20Feed&utm_campaign=DSA%20Feed&utm_content=&gclid=Cj0KCQiAvc_xBRCYARIsAC5QT9mSyXx-jxpvWeFQytjcIQ-hF5i7qWr9iO_103AaBVH7GOKJVC8mf8EaAlrIEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Ok...how about this:

From the 50A-to-30A dogbone you plug this in:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/AC-WORKS-1-5-ft-10-3-STW-30-Amp-TT-30P-RV-Travel-Trailer-Plug-to-30-Amp-L14-30R-2-Hots-Bridged-Adapter-TT30L1430-018/302447731

Then your RIGID adapter with 20-amp breaker

Then this:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/AC-WORKS-RV-Generator-Adapter-NEMA-L14-20P-20-Amp-125-Volt-250-Volt-4-Prong-Locking-Plug-to-RV-TT-30R-30-Amp-RV-Female-Connector-RVL1420TT/301828763

Then the RV's power cord.

Thoughts?
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Posts: 5290 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 Jan 2020 at 8:06am
Yes, that claim is nonsense. Overcurrent protection requires a circuit breaker of fuse, so Lostagain’s solution would work.

I just saw this on NorthernTool’s website. It appears to have an inline 20A breaker, not a Gfci. 20A should be fine for our trailers, with the possible exception of running the microwave and the a/c at the same time. It should be located as close as possible to the pedestal.

For the price it might be a good solution even if you had to change out one or the other connectors to make it compatible with your other cords and adapters. I might be tempted to cut off both ends, get a 50A plug and put it on one end, and a 30A on the other so it would replace the dog bone and connect directly to the trailer shore power cord.

https://m.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200722091_200722091?&utm_source=google_PPC&utm_medium=NT%20DSA%20Feed&utm_campaign=DSA%20Feed&utm_content=&gclid=Cj0KCQiAvc_xBRCYARIsAC5QT9mSyXx-jxpvWeFQytjcIQ-hF5i7qWr9iO_103AaBVH7GOKJVC8mf8EaAlrIEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
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CharlieM View Drop Down
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Posts: 1797 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 Jan 2020 at 7:22am
Originally posted by Pod_Geek

So I continue to be somewhat confused by the 50-to-30 dogbone thing.  I found this:

The option to run a 30-amp recreational vehicle, or RV, from a 50 amp outlet is useful to many RVers. To avoid catastrophic damage to appliances, equipment and wiring circuits, and a real danger of fire, the amperage must be stepped down to 30 amps. This is easily done, by using a 50-male to 30-female connector, referred to by RVers and manufacturers as a "dogbone" connector, because it has two bulbous terminals joined by a short, slender cord. Dogbone adapters comprise a heavy-duty three-conductor wire between a 50-amp plug and a 30-amp outlet. They work by leaving one of the 50 amp outlet's two positive 120-volt legs unconnected to the 30-amp outlet.


So if this is correct and the dogbone actually steps the current down to 30 Amps right out of the pedestal, is there really any danger?



The claim is bogus. A full 50 Amperes is available to the 30 Amp connector. MCarter is correct. The real world risk is minimal but not zero. BTW I use a dogbone adapter and sleep very well Smile.
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lostagain View Drop Down
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Posts: 2587 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Jan 2020 at 11:06pm
Why not make a box with a 30A breaker in it to connect to the dogbone.  On the down stream side it can have a 30A plug into which you can plug your 30A cable.  Go from 50A to the box with the breaker, and then to your trailer.  The risk is still there between the 50 amp plug and the length of the dogbone wire, but on the other side of the 30A breaker you should be protected.  If you catch the dogbone wire on fire for lack of 50A protection it's not likely to hurt anything but the dogbone. Presumably the dog bone wires are of a gauge that they can handle the 50A input for the distance to the box.
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Posts: 3419 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Jan 2020 at 5:40pm
I disagree with the step down remark. Each leg of a 50 Amp service has 50 Amps available. So the connection from a 50 Amp service to 30 Amp service, eliminates one leg of the electricity from the 50 Amp service. So you have a 50 Amp availability coming into a 30 Amp service. Again, I have not seen one instance of an issue with this hook up or the use of a dogbone. BUT - electrically it could happen if the conditions I spoke about occurred. We just have to be aware it COULD happen. So can a tornado.
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Posts: 260 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Jan 2020 at 4:48pm
So I continue to be somewhat confused by the 50-to-30 dogbone thing.  I found this:

The option to run a 30-amp recreational vehicle, or RV, from a 50 amp outlet is useful to many RVers. To avoid catastrophic damage to appliances, equipment and wiring circuits, and a real danger of fire, the amperage must be stepped down to 30 amps. This is easily done, by using a 50-male to 30-female connector, referred to by RVers and manufacturers as a "dogbone" connector, because it has two bulbous terminals joined by a short, slender cord. Dogbone adapters comprise a heavy-duty three-conductor wire between a 50-amp plug and a 30-amp outlet. They work by leaving one of the 50 amp outlet's two positive 120-volt legs unconnected to the 30-amp outlet.


So if this is correct and the dogbone actually steps the current down to 30 Amps right out of the pedestal, is there really any danger?
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offgrid View Drop Down
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Posts: 5290 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Jan 2020 at 4:35pm
I would guess that no it doesn't monitor for current as it only says it protects from voltage spikes or surges. 
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Posts: 260 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Jan 2020 at 4:16pm
I've been looking for an in-line circuit breaker or fuse setup that could be plugged in to the electrical line between the pedestal and RV receptacle to no avail.  I'm a bit befuddled that someone doesn't make one.

Edit:  Maybe this??
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